The relationship of serum visfatin levels with clinical parameters, flow-mediated dilation, and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background/aim: Atherosclerotic heart diseases can occur at an early age in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) values are reliable markers for early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with AS. We aimed to investigate the relationship between visfatin levels and indirect markers of subclinical atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with AS. Materials and methods: Forty-two patients diagnosed with AS and 42 age, sex, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls were included in the study. Visfatin levels, FMD, and cIMT were measured using appropriate methods. Results: Visfatin levels of the patients were significantly higher than controls (p < 0.001). FMD values in patients with AS were significantly lower (p = 0.007) whereas cIMT were significantly higher than the controls (p = 0.003). There was a negative relationship between FMD with visfatin levels (p = 0.004), BASDAI (p = 0.010), and BASFI (p = 0.007). There was a positive relationship between cIMT with visfatin (p = 0.005), BASDAI (p < 0.001), and BASFI (p < 0.001). There was a positive relationship between visfatin with BASDAI (p < 0.001), and BASFI (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Visfatin levels are increased and associated with impaired FMD and increased cIMT in patients with AS. Increased visfatin levels may be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in AS.